Nipsey Hussle

Not since the emergence of the Game on the national hip-hop scene has Los Angeles had such a promising new rapper as Nipsey Hussle. The onetime member of the notorious Rolling Sixty Crips from the Crenshaw and Slauson neighborhood of L.A. has steadily gained national attention over the past year. He first garnered attention on the strength of his Bullets Ain't Got No Name mixtape series, narrated in a singsongy flow that recalls an edgier Snoop Dogg. While a debut album is still forthcoming, his street releases recently scored him a slot in this year's edition of XXL magazine's career-making "Annual Freshman Ten." This Friday marks his Miami live debut. New Times talked to Nipsey about his youth, his music, and touring in America's other badlands.